According to an article posted on Subject: Poker on Wednesday, $14.3 million allegedly owed to Full Tilt Poker front man Chris Ferguson could be the latest obstacle in a deal to transfer the assets of the dormant online poker room to Groupe Bernard Tapie. While PocketFives was unable to verify the contents of the story as of press time, Subject: Poker revealed that Ferguson transferred about $60 million in Full Tilt Poker distributions to bank accounts held under the name "Pocket Kings Ltd."

Subject: Poker added that Ferguson "successfully withdrew or spent about $45 million of this funneled money, but about $14.3 million of it was used for Full Tilt's post-Black Friday expenses, reportedly with his permission." Since at least 2007, Ferguson's payments from Full Tilt were reportedly sent to personal bank accounts as well as those held under the name of the room's parent company.

The future of the $14.3 million could be a sticking point to the deal. According to Subject: Poker, the initial idea was to give "Jesus" non-voting stock shares worth $14.3 million. However, after the U.S. Department of Justice declared that former Board members could not have an interest in the new company, the parties were sent back to the drawing board.

The same article notes that Ferguson and his legal counsel, Ian Imrich, have "threatened to file for, amongst other things, a constructive trust over the money seized on Black Friday and injunctive relief to delay the planned forfeiture of FTP's assets until their issue is settled... The approximately $35-$45 million that was seized on Black Friday is currently expected to be released to GBT to help repay non-U.S. players. So, either of these steps could stop the deal if they were granted by a judge."

A phone call placed by PocketFives to Imrich was not returned at press time.

Subject: Poker added that even if Ferguson (pictured) received the $14.3 million he's allegedly owed, the DOJ could seize it given the ongoing legal battle it's waging with Full Tilt Poker's Board: "The DOJ has successfully seized approximately $300,000 from Ferguson, significantly less than the $25 million that the DOJ is suing Ferguson for in the amended complaint. So, it is not clear how Ferguson intends to receive the $14.3 million without immediately having it seized by the DOJ."

On PocketFives, a thread developed in the Poker Sites forum about what could be the latest obstacle to Full Tilt Poker's asset transfer. PocketFives Elite member wackyJaxon noted, "I am assuming that Chris knew about the issue of FTP floating funds they were not collecting from U.S. players... Assuming that is the case, Chris Ferguson looks a lot worse in my eyes than Howard Lederer [by] going after more money and holding up and perhaps threatening the deal with the GBT."

Last month, Subject: Poker explained that the deal "follows the November 17th agreement between DOJ and GBT that allows GBT to purchase forfeited FTP assets from the DOJ... for an agreed-upon price of $80 million. In return, GBT also agrees to repay or otherwise make whole non-U.S. players, who are owed over $150 million."

The DOJ would reportedly take charge of paying back Full Tilt's U.S. players. In September, the DOJ had acknowledged that the entire process could take multiple months and called the site a "global Ponzi scheme." Meanwhile, we're just three months away from the one-year anniversary of Black Friday. Last April, Full Tilt jettisoned the U.S. market along with PokerStars, Absolute Poker, and UB. The latter two sites have also not paid back U.S. players.

According to Subject: Poker, Ferguson and Imrich are trying to recoup "any funds that they feel were spent improperly," although it's not immediately clear what "improperly" means in this case. It added, "We have no reason to believe that the above threats have in any way been successful in stalling or impeding the impending deal."

Groupe Bernard Tapie officials originally expressed a desire to re-launch the Full Tilt brand in the future. Stay tuned to PocketFives for the latest.

Chris Fergeson should be extremely embarrassed that he plays poker. The fact that this knit is trying to stall the full tilt deal which will replay tons of players is rediculous. This guy on poker after dark acted like a complete byotch when he didnt want to ante like everyone else in a holdem game of 72 (winnner shows 72 and collects from group). Mike matesow ripped him a new one, and kudos to you Mike, because this guy is a complete byotch sissy! I hope he goes to jail pretty soon and done up his jesus butt.

This guy is a complete and utter douchebag. I personally don't have any funds locked up on Full Tilt but this scum of the earth p.o.s has the audacity to hold up the players getting their money becuase he is supposedly owed 14 million on a company he and Howard already raped and pillaged? I really hope this guy gets what he deserves and I'm not talking 14 million either!

This guy really needs somebody to kick the living shit out of him. I can't believe that he has the audacity to hold up the players getting their money becuase he thinks he is owed 14 million, in players funds? You and Howard already raped the company into bankruptcy and now you want more? I hope you spend the rest of your life in prison and please never show us your ugly face again on television. You are a p.o.s scum of the earth!

Originally Posted by Boofer

Had my best run ever and most amount ever in FTP just before B/F. I'm soooo fucking tilted!!! Someone please take a baseball bat to these fuckers shins!!! Please!!!!

Idem.
Was finally running good, and then this happened.
Got some BR out, but still my major site.
Was finally moving up in the buy-ins.
Totally agree with the second part.
Real scumbags.
Tilted me good and screwed my developing BR big-time.